Learn to enter through the narrow gate,

Tuesday, 6/21/16

From Bible stories such as the “Book of Ruth” we take away a
picture of those ancient cities. In them all important matters were settled by the town elders taking their seats just within the city gate.
Those elders would have the gate closed tight when enemy forces
or diseases were threatening.

Any farmer or traveling merchant was ought of luck if he
were caught outside after the elders had swung tight the gates.

Some few of the townsfolk had a way of getting in after the
great gate had been swung shut. On a steep hillside, and hidden in brambles, there was a
narrow gate through which he might enter, provided he were well known to the
gatekeeper.

Jesus was telling us to take the tricky path, to put up with
pushing the sticky brambles aside, to lead a disciplined life, to make ourselves
well known to the gatekeeper.

“Oh, you can’t get to
heaven on roller skates. You’ll roll right by those pearly gates.

“Oh, you can’t get to
heaven on roller skates. You’ll roll right by those pearly gates.